The Lexington Advertiser

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1941
Rustproof Oats In List Favored Varieties
The familiar Rustproof strains of oats continue to lead in variety tests conducted at five locations in the State by the Mississippi Experiment Station, but certain of the new and earlier varieties are proving worthy of serious consideration by state farmers. Oat variety tests have been conducted by the Mississippi Station and several sub-stations for many years. During this period numerous varieties have been found wanting and dropped, desirable varieties have been continued, while new varieties have appeared at intervals. As a result, though the list has changed somewhat from year to year, certain of the old varieties are now accepted as standard and certain of the newcomers are beginning to prove their worth. At hill stations, 13 oat varieties were tested during both the years 1940 and 1941. Of these, nine varieties averaged approximately 45 bushels per acre at State College; 11 varieties averaged 66 bushels at Holly Springs; 6 varieties averaged 56 bushels at Raymond; 5 varieties averaged approximately 48 bushels at Natchez. At Stoneville of 11 varieties tested both years, 8 varieties averaged 83 bushels per acre. Date-of-planting and rate-of-seeding experiments have been conducted by the Delta Branch Station at Stoneville for 12 years in one test and 9 years in another. These tests indicate the first of October as the best period for planting. Seeding at the rate of 2 1/2 bushels per acre seems preferable, but yields differed only slightly whether the rate was 6 pecks, or 8 pecks, or 10 pecks per acre when seeded on fertile soil in ideal seed beds.
"The Rustproof strains should be used most extensively," said J. Fred O'Kelly, plant breeder for the Experiment Station. "They include such varieties as Appler, Hastings, Ferguson 922, New Nortex and Texlut. One of these will be as satisfactory as another if the seed is free of noxious weeds and has been treated for smut control.
"The Fulgrains, Victorian, and a few other early oats should be considered. They fit in well where another crop is to be planted immediately after the oat crop is removed since their early maturity provides more time for operations that are to follow. For spring planting they will sometimes produce as much grain as the Rustproof strains." Details results of small grain experiments are published in the July and August issues of Mississippi Farm Research, monthly publication of the Experiment Station which is available to farmers on request.